Los Angeles (AFP)
Anonymous NFL player launched civil proceedings against United Airlines, accusing crew members of failing to intervene despite complaining of being harassed and sexually assaulted by a female passenger during a flight in February .
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims unspecified damages from the airline.
According to the complaint, the player playing in the Professional Football League and another man seated in the same row complained several times to the crew members of the "unwanted sexual advances" made by a woman, also seated in the same row.
The two men are suing United Airlines because the airline refused to give them the names of the accused woman, flight crew and potential witnesses. They also accuse him of not respecting the protocol provided for in the event of sexual harassment and assault, during the night flight on February 10 from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey.
The woman first harassed the player because he was wearing a mask against the Covid-19. After a first complaint without follow-up, she then "grabbed and fiddled with her thighs then caressed her knees with her hand and then the inside of her leg near her genitals", according to the file.
One person witnessed part of the woman's misconduct and asked her to stop in vain. The woman then removed the facial mask worn by the player and grabbed his genitals, before he left his seat to complain to other passengers about the assault he suffered.
The woman then moved on a seat by grabbing a leg and the groin of the other man, according to witnesses. After which, the crew members finally placed her in another row.
The complaint, however, argues that the airline's lack of poise was a violation of its obligation to protect and care for its passengers.
© 2020 AFP